The God Valley Incident is one of the most curious past events in the One Piece narrative. The event covers the defeat of the Rocks Pirates, a crew that required the combined forces of the Navy and the Roger Pirates to stop them. It's an intriguing time because it involves Monkey D. Garp and Gol D. Roger, two of the most prominent men sailing the sea at that time, teaming up to beat someone who was too great for either of them. However, the evil this crew was willing to commit compelled the World Government to erase the fight from history, which may have also included sinking the island it took place on. As such, the battle and everything surrounding it remains shrouded in mystery.
This makes Chapter 1095's peer into the God Valley incident so engaging. This preview features several characters no one knew were at God Valley when the Incident happened – St. Jaygarcia Saturn, St. Figarland Garling, Bartholomew Kuma, and Emporio Ivankov. Their newly confirmed presence adds another layer of intrigue surrounding the Incident and may provide insight into what happened that fateful day.
What Do Fans Know About God Valley?
God Valley was best covered in Chapter 957, "Ultimate." Thirty-eight years ago, Vice Admiral Garp and the Marines battled the Rocks Pirates led by Rocks D. Xebec. The Roger Pirates joined the Marines to beat this aspiring Pirate King looking to take over the world. Since the Roger Pirates' involvement was covered up, Garp took responsibility for defeating Xebec and became the Hero of the Marines. After the God Valley Incident, the island was wiped off the map without a trace. Fans concluded the island was destroyed by a secret Ancient Weapon wielded by the World Government; this would match what they did to Lulusia in Chapter 1060, "Luffy's Dream."
The World Government likely wanted to sweep any mention of Xebec under the rug, which is also why hardly anyone in the modern era knows his name. Garp doesn't like talking about the God Valley Incident because it involved protecting Celestial Dragons and teaming up with Gold Roger. He doesn't like having to answer to them, which is why he avoided the promotion to Admiral. Regardless, Xebec's plans endangered them, so he needed to be their Hero, too. St. Figarland Garling also established himself as the "champion" (王者, oja) of God Valley. This was initially mistranslated as "ruler" in Chapter 1086, "The Five Elders," which led to many misunderstandings among the American fandom.
A relative of his, Red-Haired Shanks, was found as a baby in a treasure chest collected by the Roger Pirates in the same place. Between this and young Garling's resemblance to the Emperor, fans have concluded these two are father and son. Another oddity about this day is Big Mom and Kaido's involvement. Big Mom reminded the King of the Beasts that she gave him his Devil Fruit the same day Rocks fell in Chapter 999, "The Sake I Brewed to Drink With You." It's unknown where she got the Fruit or whether it's related to the Incident, but the fact that it happened on the same day makes it likely.
What Does Chapter 1095 Confirm about God Valley?
Chapter 1095 revealed that the Celestial Dragons were on the island to hunt the locals and some slaves for sport. Once the locals were wiped out, they could claim the island and its resources in the name of the World Government. Kuma was one such slave involved in this Native Hunting Competition. The Rocks Pirates likely attacked the Celestial Dragons during (or shortly after) their game. The future Warlord must have barely avoided the crossfire and got out with his life.
One noteworthy scene involves Kuma trying to escape, but his fellow slaves recapture him on their masters' behalf. They knew they would be held responsible for Kuma and killed if they let him run. This scene was previously shown when Bonney was looking at her father's memories in Chapter 1074, "MK. III."
This Incident is also where Kuma met Emporio Ivankov and his sister, Ginny. The two boys would eventually become members of the Revolutionary Army under Monkey D. Dragon. This meeting could mean Dragon was also somehow involved in the God Valley Incident, which would be another reason to cover it up.
St. Figarland Garling likely won the God Valley Native Hunting Competition and thus established himself as the island's champion. That, or he was involved in the God Valley Incident somehow. As a Holy Knight, he should have been powerful enough to enter the fray and come out unscathed. However, given how much credit Garp received for beating Xebec, the Celestial Dragon likely had little to do with it.
Some astute fans noticed a panel where six small treasure chests were shown. These chests are noted to be about the same size as the box used to contain Luffy's Gum-Gum Fruit. The Celestial Dragons likely didn't get their hands on this elusive Fruit, but one of these chests could be holding Kaido's future Devil Fruit.
What Could Have Happened at God Valley?
What's currently known about God Valley could be used to determine how its Incident unfolded. It likely started near the end of the Celestial Dragons' Native Hunting Competition. By that point, Garling would have gained an indisputable lead (after overcoming his ten-thousand-point deficit), and some of the last survivors would be Kuma and Ivankov. Kuma surviving until this point with Garling on the hunt would show how much Ivankov's words from the end of Chapter 1095 got to him. The Rocks Pirates likely invaded the island before the Celestial Dragons could finish hunting their game.
The ensuing chaos would have allowed Kuma and Ivankov (and maybe Ginny) to escape the island without being forced back into the hands of their captors. Chapter 1095's flashback would likely end around this point (it's too early to give everything away), but more speculation can be made from what's known. The Marines were likely quick to step in if they weren't already guarding the island from invaders. Even if they were doing the former, the Rocks Pirates may have broken through their defenses to enact their plan. At this point, Garp would intervene to take his shot at the crew.
A young Dragon (who would be 17 around this time) might have also been on God Valley as part of the Marines. He could have been the one who helped slaves like Kuma and Ivankov escape rather than round them up for the World Nobles as he was supposed to; it would have been a fated meeting that would have resounding consequences. This personal act would be the first of many signs of his discontent with the current system of government, which would eventually be attributed to the rift between him and his father, Garp. In the aftermath of the fight, the surviving Roger and Rocks pirates may have taken whatever treasure was left on the island while they had the chance.
Gold Roger's crew may have found Shanks hastily left behind by the Celestial Dragons. Charlotte Linlin could have similarly made off with the Azure Dragon fruit left behind in one of the chests. Kuma and Ivankov might have even made off with their future Devil Fruits. Whatever happened in God Valley, Kuma's role was likely minimal. As a child slave, the most he can do in a battle between the strongest pirates and Marines is live to tell the tale. This also makes it unlikely that he caught a decent glimpse of Xebec, or any other principal fighters, for that matter. The events of the battle and its aftermath may have to be covered another time. However, with any luck, Oda may be willing to provide more details than the audience bargained for.
